Have any of you experienced bad allergies or asthma but only in the workplace? I’ve worked in several different offices over the years and inevitably had to deal with a coworker’s strong perfume or, even worse, construction work being done during working hours (painting, sawing, plastering etc). Sometimes I’ve had unexplained allergies, unexplained as there was no obvious triggers but my hunch was that the ventilation system was the culprit. But what to do?

As with many allergies, the best cure is avoidance, but unless you live or work in a bubble that isn’t always practical nor is it always desirable. According to the Mayo Clinic, there are over 250 workplace triggers for occupational asthma. Eek.
Some jobs are inherently riskier than others. For example, bakers often get baker’s asthma; forest workers, carpenters, cabinetmakers are routinely exposed to wood dust; hairdressers have to contend with chemicals such as persulfate; health care professionals and latex allergies are well documented; and even seafood processors develop seafood allergies.

According to the New York Times article, “The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has guidelines for handling these and other substances, and masks, ventilation systems and exposure rotations go a long way toward reducing allergies at work. But some people suffer even with the best of practices.”

Allergies as disabilities
Most surprising may be that, "Severe allergies fall under the Americans with Disabilities Act, which requires employers to make reasonable changes in the workplace to enable an employee to do the job. And allergies developed at work often fall under workers’ compensation laws.
Now this is very interesting to me. However I suspect much like workplace bullying, severe allergies due to the workplace, especially places like your average cubicle (not a mill, or a chemical plant) are hard to prove and harder still to pursue legally.

Have your allergies forced you to change jobs? Or worse, have you had to file for disabilities because of your allergies?